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01-03-2008 | Original Paper

Excitement-seeking Gambling in a Nationally Representative Sample of Recreational Gamblers

Authors: Michael V. Pantalon, Paul K. Maciejewski, Rani A. Desai, Marc N. Potenza

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

Excitement-seeking and related constructs have been associated with heavier gambling and negative health measures in problem and/or pathological gamblers. Most adults gamble recreationally and an understanding of the relationship between excitement-seeking as a motivation for gambling amongst subsyndromal gamblers has significant public health implications. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine a national sample of past-year recreational gamblers (N = 1,476) to identify characteristics distinguishing gamblers acknowledging gambling for excitement (“Excitement-seeking Gamblers” or EGs) and gamblers denying gambling for excitement (“Non-excitement-seeking Gamblers” or NEGs). EGs were more likely than NEGs to report alcohol use and abuse/dependence, any substance abuse/dependence, incarceration, large gambling wins and losses, more frequent and varied gambling, and symptoms of pathological gambling (i.e., at-risk gambling). Together, these findings indicate that EGs are more likely than NEGs to demonstrate problems in multiple areas characterized by impaired impulse control.

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Title: Excitement-seeking Gambling in a Nationally Representative Sample of Recreational Gamblers
Authors: Michael V. Pantalon
Paul K. Maciejewski
Rani A. Desai
Marc N. Potenza
Publication date: 01-03-2008
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-007-9075-3

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Excitement-seeking Gambling in a Nationally Representative Sample of Recreational Gamblers

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